Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-25
FRANCE nEJoIUEs
Everybody Glad OF the Success or the
Scpteunatc,
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ICorpiOld 1857 bp James Gordon Bfhnctt1
PARIS (vla llavre), Feb. 23.-lNew York
fIerald Cable-Special 10 the BEE. The
German elections have caused tremendous
excitement in Paris. Every Frenchman
felt that upon the result depended the ques-
tisp OF peace and war. Almost every man,
woman and child drew a breath of relief
when the papers announced that the Bis
marck septennate was safe. BY an irony of
fate without q parallel In the history of
France, the country rejoices IN Bsmarck's
triumph. No one could gaze, as did this
morning, on the tens of thousands OF Paris
ans as they h as!cned to their occupations on
foot, on omnibusseS, on the tramways, and
on the suburban railways, all reading their
newspapers and exclaiming: "C'est la paiX,'
without feeling convinced that the great
masses of the population sincerely wish for
peace. l have talked to-day with over
dozen statesmen, tinanciers land Journalists,
among whom 1 may cite NJ. Clemenceau,
Baron Alpholse do Rothschild, DE Frey
cnct, L. Hebard, a senator and editor of the
Temps and NJ Alatola de la Forge. They
were all aglow over Bismarck's success,
which. although by no means decisive, is
counted upon as sufficient to save the sep.
tennate and to guarantee peace In the immc-
diate future.
IT sTEADIEs PRICES.
Baron de Rothschild said: "The bourse TO.
day is frmer than it has been for weeks past.
The result of the German elections is causing
o steady rise everywhere"
DO NOT WANT WAR.
nj. Clemenceau said: "France sincerely
wishes for peace. The nation does not dream
at the present of attacking Germany, and
now that T rince Bismarck is sure of his sep
tennate 1t is safe to believe that Germany
will not attack us. The elections show that
the great masses of the German people, like
the great masses of the French people, do not
want war This is reassurng for the mo-
ment, but no observer can fail to see that
Prince Bismarck has now upon his hands a
most grave domestic contest between the
military aristocracy and the German people
that must eventually lead to the destruction
of one or the other. This internal struggle
which Germany is now undergoing Is the real
danger, and it may before long assume an
aspect in which Prince Bismarck can only
gain his partisan ends by plunging into war.
The result of the elections in Alsace Lorraine
Is such as to cause the heart of every
Frenchman to vibrate with pride However,
that is n subject upon which ii would DO more
prudent for me not to speak about at greater
length.
AT LEAST TEMPORARY PEACE
Another prominent statesman and an ex-
prime minister, who is noted for his keen
diplomatic instinct and caution, but who
desired me not to mention his name, told
me that the German elections meant peace
for the next few months. He added: EVERY
week gained is step towards permanent
peace, for France has only to wait and
watch for favorable opportunity,
and she may be able to win back
her lost provinces without even fighting for
them. This may seem to you strange, but
with the present generation much of the bit
ter hatred that renders now any idea of
compromise utterly beyond the range of
practical politics will cease 70 exist, and there
Is no reason why a republican Germany
may not feel obliged to make question of
war If France were to quietly tear up the
treaty of Frankfort, by which Germany holds
the annexed provinces, just as Russia tore
up the treaty OF Paris at n favorable moment
and regained, without drawing a sword, all
that she had lost in the Crieaman war. But
all that is in the distant future. What we
have to congratulate all Europe upon now is
the distinct assurance given by Prince Bis
marck since he has saved his Septennate."
WHAT TIE PAPERS SAY.
The Debats saj g.: sit is better for the
peace of Europe that the septennate should
have won the victory. But 1t would have
been still better for the tranquility of Europe
If that victory had not been won by resort
ing to such measures
The Figaro says: "The millards of 1871
have launched German industry upon pros
porous basis, which the nation cannot now
permit to be disturbed by war. That the
German nation desires peace is the inter
probation that must be accepted from the re-
suit of the elections"
The Temps says: "The magnificent mani
festation of the proud. brave people of
Alsace-Lorraine, after lapse Of sixteen
years, arouses all our sentiments to such a
degree that we are deprived of the liberty of
expressing any comments. We bow down
before it, and in silence we salute it."